Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus likely to miss Schalke clash due to illness

The absence of the 33-year-old would be a significant blow to Dortmund's already thin squad, given their recent string of unavailable players due to injury and illness.

Last week, Dortmund had to substitute Julian Brandt during their match against Chelsea in the Champions League, and now Reus joins the list of likely absentees.

This leaves Dortmund with a challenging task ahead of them as they take on one of the league's in-form teams at Veltins-Arena on Saturday night. Schalke have not lost in their last six Bundesliga games.

Schalke has always been a tough opponent for Die Schwarzgelben, with previous encounters affecting their potential for winning silverware. Despite the difficulties ahead, Dortmund must look secure a win against Schalke to stay on track in the Bundesliga where they share top spot with Bayern Munich both on 49 points.

Reus has been a vital player for his side, and his absence would undoubtedly have an impact on the team's performance.

Dortmund will need to put up a strong showing to prove that their 2-0 loss to Chelsea has not derailed their momentum or focus on their objectives for the season.

The match against Schalke will undoubtedly be a tense affair, but Dortmund must plan to come out on top if they hope to achieve their goal of winning silverware this campaign.